15:19 Mon, 10 Mar M

Chapter 149

Chapter 149

Flashes of this year’s birthday hit her like a slideshow–the silence, the empty apartment.

The Harts? Chris? They were all off in Europe with Olivia.

Not one text. Not one call.

Forgotten? Not a chance.

She and Olivia had the same birthday–they knew. They just didn’t care.

That part didn’t sting anymore. What stuck in her head was why, after all that, Catlin still refused to sign the disownment

papers.

“What’s wrong?” Sebastian’s voice pulled her back.

Stephanie shook her head, her smile faint. “Nothing. Just… been a while since anyone thought my birthday was worth celebrating.”

Ever since she left the Giovannis, birthdays stopped meaning anything.

Before she could say anything else, Sebastian pulled her straight into his arms.

His heartbeat was right there under her cheek–strong, steady, and grounding.

His voice dropped low, rougher than usual. “Still thinking about running off again?”

Her eyes burned, and before she could stop herself, the tears slipped. “No. Never again.”

The Casalinis were already wiped off the map. She had no reason to run anymore.

Sebastian held her tighter, like she might disappear if he let go.

“Sorry, Seb.” Her arms wrapped around his waist, face buried against his chest.

He didn’t answer, just smoothed a hand over her hair, fingers sliding through gently.

She had nothing to be sorry for. Back then, he was neck–deep in turf wars and putting out fires left and right.

He barely had a second to look her way–that’s how the Casalinis slipped through the cracks.

By the time Stephanie made it back to the office, a good thirty minutes had passed.

Jennifer’s eyes zeroed in on the necklace the second Stephanie walked in.

“Hold up–boss, where the hell did you get that? It looks… Weirdly familiar.”

“Sicily Sunrise,” Stephanie said casually.

Jennifer’s jaw dropped. “Are you kidding me?”

That diamond wasn’t just expensive–it was a legend.

Auctioned for over 30 million dollars, with billionaires and royals fighting over it–and Stephanie was just wearing it?

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15:19 Mon, 10 Mar

Chapter 149

Harts couldn’t afford something like that even if they sold off

It

bome from him.

caught the look on Jennifer’s face and raised a brow. “So? Does it look good

almost comical. “It’s

smiled. Of course it

still

blinked for a second before it clicked.

second Stephanie heard that, her smile disappeared like it was never

***

、 87%L

+5

was already sitting there, her forced patience barely holding on.

now, the cracks were showing. Hearing the door open, she tried to pull

Your assistant called you three times, but you

voice–along with a trace of

these days, Catlin had resorted to

Cold–blooded? Heartless? Catlin had never met a daughter like this

Once Olivia was back on her feet, she planned to have a long chat with the family that

answers. What kind of parenting turned out

onto the desk, zero interest in small talk. “Alright, what do you want?”

this wasn’t about Olivia, she couldn’t imagine why Catlin was even

she sat down, sunlight hit the necklace she was wearing, sending bright flecks of

Catlin wasn’t looking directly at her, it was impossible

10 Mar

Chapter 149

Chapter 149

this year’s birthday hit her like a slideshow–the silence, the

Harts? Chris? They were all off in

text. Not

a

and Olivia had the same birthday–they knew. They just didn’t care.

was why, after all that, Catlin still refused to sign

papers.

wrong?” Sebastian’s voice

her head, her smile faint. “Nothing. Just… been a while since anyone thought my birthday was

the Giovannis, birthdays stopped meaning anything.

could say anything else, Sebastian pulled her

under her cheek–strong, steady, and grounding.

low, rougher than usual. “Still thinking about running off

she could stop herself, the tears

already wiped off the map. She had no reason to

she might disappear if he

Her arms wrapped around his waist, face buried against his

over

Back then, he was neck–deep in turf wars and putting out

second to look her way–that’s how the Casalinis slipped through the cracks.

the time Stephanie made it back to the

on the necklace

up–boss, where the hell did you get that? It looks… Weirdly familiar.”

Stephanie

jaw dropped. “Are you

wasn’t just expensive–it was a legend.

over 30 million dollars, with billionaires and royals fighting over it–and Stephanie

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